Government Regulation and Public Sector Law

On October 2, a community banking trade association filed a lawsuit against the OCC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the agency's authority to grant national trust bank charters to cryptocurrency companies. The complaint alleges that the OCC exceeded its authority under the National Bank Act (NBA) and violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by permitting institutions that neither accept deposits nor primarily engage in fiduciary activities to obtain national trust bank charters.

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced significant revisions to its Justice Manual affecting False Claims Act enforcement, particularly regarding the use of guidance documents in civil and criminal actions and the dismissal of qui tam lawsuits. These changes reinstate 2017 policies while adding substantial new detail about when and how DOJ may rely on sub-regulatory guidance in enforcement proceedings, and signal a potentially more active approach to evaluating whether private whistleblower actions

On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule limiting Title V review of NSR preconstruction permitting decisions and clarifying that the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 112(r)(1) is not an “applicable requirement” under Title V.

As forced labor import bans proliferate globally, traditional M&A due diligence methodologies are proving inadequate for identifying and pricing supply chain risks that can instantly freeze inventory at borders and destroy deal value. This analysis examines why conventional approaches fail to detect upstream vulnerabilities in multi-tier supply chains and proposes enhanced diligence frameworks that integrate customs enforcement priorities, origin-level traceability, and specialized contractual protections

As rapid data center construction sparks community backlash, technology companies face mounting pressure to address environmental and human rights concerns through sustainable corporate practices. Grassroots resistance is emerging from fears that communities will bear the burden of higher energy costs, water scarcity, air pollution, and noise while tech companies reap the benefits.

Commercial litigation partner Jacques Semmelman joins Dateline NBC's True Crime Weekly podcast to demystify the complex world of international extradition law. Drawing on his experience as a former Assistant US Attorney, Semmelman explains the legal standards, treaty requirements, and diplomatic considerations that govern how individuals are transferred between countries to face criminal charges or serve sentences.

Congressional appropriators face mounting challenges as FY27 budget negotiations stall while the federal debt surpasses $40 trillion. The White House's attempt to reshape NIH grant decisions through political appointees sparked immediate pushback from key lawmakers, raising fundamental questions about executive authority over congressionally mandated funding processes.

Over its 87-year history, enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act has ebbed and flowed. Here is a snapshot of recent and current developments in FARA enforcement.

Financial services firms, healthcare organizations, and businesses across industries are investing heavily in AI and data analytics, yet many struggle to translate these investments into measurable returns. The gap between AI ambition and execution often begins with governance, workforce readiness, and the ability to turn insights into actionable business outcomes.

Europe’s defense sector is entering a period of significant investment and consolidation as governments increase defense spending, technological innovation accelerates and policymakers seek to strengthen European industrial capacity.

National security considerations are rapidly reshaping the life sciences industry, with evolving U.S. and European regulations affecting research, clinical trials, supply chains, investment, data governance, and commercialization. This webinar examines the latest developments across the U.S. and European national security landscape, including countries of concern, investment controls, human 'omic data restrictions, and AI-related risks.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing significant shifts in transaction review patterns, heightened scrutiny of Chinese investors, and increased withdrawal rates. The report highlights a surge in semiconductor and aerospace sector filings, expanded use of mitigation agreements, and the launch of a new Known Investor initiative designed to expedite reviews for repeat filers.